Returning Red

#13: Shay Cooper.

mine doesn't belong to me anymore

Isabella

I got off the phone, smiling. I needed to talk about this and I felt a little relieved after I cut the call. I'm glad I have everything exactly where I want them to be. I'd been waiting for this for a really long time. I walked to the table where Liam, Jason, and May were sitting. I join them after making sure that he's nowhere around.

"Hey," I say as I sit on the empty chair next to May.

"Hey, where were you?" May asked smiling as soon as she saw me.

"Uh--therapy," I nodded and she immediately nodded back.

I was glad they were not pounding me to explain or throwing questions and they just let things be the way they were.

"Do you like it?" Jason slowly asked.

I immediately nodded. "I don't know about therapy but my mentor surely does make me feel very comfortable." I shrugged. "It's mostly like a me-time, talking about myself with someone. I get to understand myself better."

"So," Liam was playing with the salt shaker. "You're telling me that you have more clarity about yourself, than you did before, even though you're quieter now?"

"I guess?" I shrugged.

"Hey, it's good if it is making you feel good. We're totally going to support you," May squeezed my palms with a huge grin. "Whatever makes you happy."

"Are the appointments weekly or what? How does it work?" Jason seemed interested.

"At first, yes they were once a week. But as I became more confident, I didn't need it that frequently. But I just take it when I feel like it these days. It helps me clear my head and vent and come up with a solution," I smiled at Jason.

All three of them were still deep in thought. I didn't know they would actually be interested in my therapy experience. It seemed new and, actually very nice.

"The girl who called you the other day--"

"She's my therapist's daughter. I got pretty attached to her when I was taking my sessions." I smiled at the mention of her.

"Lily, right? She seemed really concerned about you." Liam smiled.

"Yeah well, she's a little attached too." I smile back.

"It's actually great that you decided to take therapy though," Jason grinned at me. "It's a big step. It requires a lot of courage. I'm really proud of you, Bella. But I am worried too. Are you okay now?"

I take a deep breath, "I am, Cody. I am perfectly alright. Totally conscious and in control."

"Yeah," May exhaled, "But she did mention something about the pills--"

"Actually, that was why I started therapy. I wanted to stop taking the pills and a friend suggested therapy. It helped. There's nothing to worry about. It's not going to harm me. I know my limit and I take them very rarely, just when I think I need to. I'm okay, Lily was just being paranoid." I say in my most confident voice. "Although I don't think it's going to get any easier now, will it?" I was staring at a spot on the table.